Lord’s Test: Joe Root, Ben Stokes lead England battle again as hosts shut in on beautiful win vs New Zealand

Former captain Joe Root and captain Ben Stokes led a surprising restoration from England on Day 3 of the pulsating Lord’s Test the hosts are closing in on a victory towards New Zealand. Root remained unbeaten on 77 after Stokes’ 54 as England reached 216/5 at Stumps on Saturday, needing 61 extra runs for a 1-0 lead within the 3-Test collection.

On a day the place 10 wickets fell, it’s Joe Root’s brilliance that has stored England’s hopes of beginning their new period underneath Ben Stokes’s captaincy on a successful word, alive. After New Zealand collapsed of their second innings, England have been set at a goal of 277 and issues didn’t begin nicely for the hosts as they have been lowered to 69 for 4 after Kyle Jamieson eliminated openers.

Alex Lees (20) and Zak Crawley (9). Ollie Pope received off to a begin bout a Trent Boult particular despatched him again whereas Jonny Bairstow suffered a second successive failure with the bat on this Test as Jamieson went by way of his defence within the twentieth over of the innings.

Just when it seemed like England would wrestle towards an impressed New Zealand assault, Root and Stokes led their resistance. The senior batting stars added a 90-run stand, taking part in out 30 overs to place the hosts in command at Stumps on Day 3.

Incidentally, Stokes was bowled when he was batting on 1 however he received a reprieve, because of Colin de Grandhomme who had overstepped. The medium-pacer left the sector on Day 3 as a consequence of a suspected pressure.

ROOT HOLDS FORT FOR ENGLAND

Root remained unbeaten on 77, braving a number of blows to the physique whereas Stokes blended warning with aggression for his 110-ball 54. The skipper went after left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, hitting him for two sixes within the remaining session to assist swing the momentum in England’s favour. However, Stokes was dismissed earlier than the beginning of the ultimate hour by Kyle Jamieson, who did the job with a well-directed bouncer.

Root, nevertheless, carried on made certain England didn’t wobble anymore till the shut of play. Wicketkeeper-batter Ben Foakes got here up with a strong supporting hand, taking part in out 48 deliveries within the remaining hour for his 9.

Jamieson was the decide of the New Zealand bowlers within the second innings as he picked up 4 wickets for 59 4uns in his 20 overs.

Earlier within the day, New Zealand collapsed after Daryl Mitchell accomplished his hundred within the first over of the day. The Black Caps misplaced their final 6 wickets for simply 34 runs after wanting good to set a goal in extra of 350 runs.

While Mitchell reached his hundred, however Tom Blundell fell agonisingly brief on 96 as Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad took the second new ball and swept by way of the vacationers’ batting order.

There have been three wickets in a single over from Broad, an efficient workforce hat-trick that began when Mitchell edged to Ben Foakes off Broad for 108 as his partnership with Blundell fell 5 runs shy of 200 runs.

De Grandhomme was out subsequent ball as he was run out from third slip by Pope, caught out of his crease as he watched the umpires’ response to a leg earlier than enchantment by Broad.

Broad then dismissed Jamieson first ball as New Zealand slumped from 251-4 to 251-7 by the top of the over.